#### **The Survivors' Dilemma**
The classroom was in shambles. Blood streaked the walls, desks were overturned, and the stench of death hung thick in the air.
Aie wiped the sweat from his brow, his hands still trembling from adrenaline. The **System Window** flickered in his vision, unnoticed by the others.
**[DING!]**
**Objective Complete: Survive the First Wave**
**Rewards Distributed:**
- **+5 Stat Points**
- **Random Skill Unlocked…**
Aie's heart pounded. *"A skill? What did I get?"*
**[Skill Acquired: Shadow Veil (C-Rank)]**
- **Effect:** Temporarily erase your presence for **10 seconds**. (Cooldown: 5 minutes)
- **Hidden Trait:** *Undetectable by low-level entities.*
Aie's lips curled into a smirk. *"Perfect."*
#### **The Class's False Leader**
Rial, the muscular delinquent, barked orders. *"We barricade the door! Grab anything sharp!"*
The others obeyed—**he looked like a leader.**
But Aie **watched.**
*"Idiot. Brute force won't save us."*
He stayed quiet, blending into the background. **The perfect observer.**
Then—
**[DING!]**
**Secret Quest Discovered: "The First Evolution"**
- **Condition:** Kill **10 zombies** without being noticed by allies.
- **Reward:** **???(Hidden)**
Aie's eyes gleamed. *"A secret quest? Now we're talking."*
#### **The First Test**
The class moved in a panicked huddle, but Aie **hung back.**
A lone zombie staggered into the hallway.
*"Target acquired."*
He gripped his bloodied ruler, activating **Precision Strike.**
**WHOOSH—THUD!**
The zombie collapsed, its skull **pierced clean through.**
**[1/10]**
No one saw.
No one **ever** saw.
#### **The System's Whisper**
As Aie moved like a ghost, the **System** spoke again—**but only to him.**
**[Notice: Your growth rate is abnormal.]**
**[Analyzing…]**
**[Result: Latent Potential Detected.]**
Aie frowned. *"What does that mean?"*
Then—
**[Hidden Trait Unlocked: "Exedent's Legacy"]**
- **Effect:** All stats grow **20% faster** when undetected.
- **Secret Power:** *"The more you hide, the stronger you become."*
Aie's pulse spiked. *"So… the System itself is hiding my power?"*
**[Affirmative.]**
#### **The Calm Before the Storm**
By nightfall, the class had barricaded themselves in the teacher's lounge.
Rial boasted. *"We're safe now. Tomorrow, we escape."*
But Aie **knew better.**
Because while they slept—
He slipped into the shadows.
**[DING!]**
**[Zombies Killed: 9/10]**
One more.
Just **one more.**
And then…
**Something would awaken.**
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